"A document approved by a recognized body, that provides, for common and repeated use, rules, guidelines or characteristics for products or related processes and production methods, with which compliance is not mandatory; and which may also include or deal exclusively with terminology, symbols, packaging, marking or labelling requirements as they apply to a product, process or production method."

-Standards of Malaysia Act 1996 (Act 549)

What is the Malaysian Standard?

Malaysian Standard (MS) is a consensus document developed by Standards Development Committee (SDCs) within the Malaysian Standards Development System and approved by the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation in accordance with Standards of Malaysia Act 1996 (Act 549).

A MS is a technical document that specifies the minimum requirements of quality and safety for voluntary use by the public. A standard becomes mandatory when a regulatory agency enforces its use through the relevant Act and Regulations.

The policy in developing MS is to adopt international standards wherever appropriate.

What are the guiding principles in Malaysian Standards development?

The ISO/IEC Guide 59 ? Code of Good Practice for Standardization and Annex 3 to the WTO/TBT Agreement act as guiding principles in the development of Malaysian Standards.

Reference to Malaysian Standards brings immense benefits to all stakeholders in achieving:• Consumer protection and public welfare• Standards provide a basis for legislation for controlling quality, protecting consumers and ensuring health and safety• Standards ensure the fitness for the intended purpose of products and services• Standards specify the minimum requirements of quality, health and safety including areas involving the environment and occupational safety, reliability and quality to consumers• Standards ensure compatibility, interchangeability and interoperatibility to benefits consumers As consensus documents, standards reflect the requirements at national and international levels.• Industrial efficiency and development• Terminology and symbol standards help in better understanding• Product standards help ensuring good design and improvement in quality of product• Product standards encourage economic efficiency through variety rationalization and interchangeability of components, materials and practices• Process standards provide the means for improving manufacturing processes• Codes of practice establish good practices in all fields of installation, construction, etc.• Testing standards set recognized level of repeatability and reproducibility• Standards being a rich source of current technologies can act as vehicles for technology transfer• Standards promote better understanding between the purchaser and seller and provide solutions to recurring problems• Standards facilitate communications use of standards provide the essential key to organize industrial development• Use of standards lead to direct and indirect economic benefits• Standards help in import substitution and export promotion

What are the Industry Standards Committees (ISCs)?

SCs are established by the JKS to oversee and coordinate the standards development process within their respective scopes as endorsed by JKS. There are currently 17 ISCs in various field of standardization as per figure 1. The committees which are managed by SIRIM Berhad also responsible for approving the draft of Malaysian standards so prepared and recommend to the STANDARDS MALAYSIA for final approval as Malaysian Standards by the Minister.

The ISCs may establish Technical committees and Working Groups for the purpose of developing Malaysian Standards. On top of that, ISCs shall identify the current needs and recommend priorities of national standardization within its scope and approve the annual programme for standards development.

In the area of international standardization, the ISCs may identify and recommend to the STANDARDS MALAYSIA delegate/s to be sponsored for attending the international meeting where necessary.

What are the technical committees (TCS)?

The TCs which are established by the ISCs are responsible for developing, preparing and reviewing Malaysian Standards for general and specific scope. TCs also responsible to approve release of draft Malaysian Standard for the purpose of soliciting public comments and reviewing the comment received.

The TCs shall be responsible for supporting its parent ISC by studying and commenting and/or voting on the relevant draft international standards.

The TCs may establish working group for the purpose of undertaking specific tasks.

What are the standards writing organizations (SWos)?

Cabinet in 1991 has approved the strategy to expedite the pace of the development of Malaysian Standard to achieve 6000 standards by the year 2010 by appointing specialized bodies to develop standards within their expertise.

The bodies which are called SWOs are appointed by SIRIM Berhad to undertake standards development work. The draft standards produced by SWOs can be directly submitted to ISC for approval provided that that particular SWO develop standards through balanced committees and the committees have released the draft for public comment and review the comments received.

For SWOs that develop standards without having a balance committees, draft standards produced by such SWOs have to be submitted to TCs for subsequent processes.

Why Public comments stage took for 60-days?

It is an obligation by the WTO-TBT agreement.

What is a CAB?

A CAB (Conformity Assessment Body) is a body that performs conformity assessment services and that can be the object of accreditation

Accreditation and Certification have very specific meanings although it is commonly used interchangeably. In layman's terms accreditation can be described as "certifying the certifiers".

Conformity assessment bodies (CABs), such as Certification Bodies, are accredited after they successfully undergo a process of assessment by an accreditation body like STANDARDS MALAYSIA, to ensure they meet international standards. Among other things, the assessment covers the certification bodies impartiality and competence to run its activity.

Certification is undertaken by the CAB and is a process by which an independent and competent third party certifies that a product, system or person, conforms to specific requirements.

How do I obtain accreditation?

Application forms for various accreditation programmes are available in the Standards Malaysia website.

Assessments for accreditation will be pursued once completed application forms and application fees are received.

ISO?s work results in international agreements which are published as International Standards.

What are the benefits of Accreditation?

Accreditation reduces risk for business and its customers by assuring them that accredited bodies are competent to carry out the work they undertake. STANDARDS MALAYSIA accreditation provides benefits such as the following:1. Single tax deduction by the Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia for each accreditation programme that the CAB is accredited for.2. Double tax deduction by the Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia for organizations/companies to obtain accredited certification.3. Grants for SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) for obtaining accredited certification is provided by SMIDEC (Small Medium Industries Development Corporation)

What is The ACB Scheme?

This scheme offers accreditation to any certification body, governmental or privately owned, that has demonstrated compliance with published criteria and requirements of the Department of Standards Malaysia. The ACB scheme offers accreditation to certification bodies operating programmes such as quality management systems, environmental management systems, product certification etc

What is ISO 9001?

ISO 9001:2008 is the standard that provides a set of standardised requirements for a quality management system, regardless of what the user organization does, its size, or whether it is in the private, or public sector. The ISO 9001:2008 standard provides a tried and tested framework for taking a systematic approach to managing the organisation's processes so that they consistently turn out product that satisfies customers' expectations.

Source: www.iso.org

How do I obtain certification e.g. ISO 9001?

Kindly contact Standards Malaysia's accredited certification bodies as listed in the website under the Directory of Accredited Certification Bodies to benefit and enjoy reliable and credible services.

How many ISO 9001 certificates are there in the market?

Kindly refer to the "Latest Figure on ACB" in our website to obtain information on accredited certification in Malaysia. Please take note that the number of certificates as indicated in the website are from Standards Malaysia accredited certification bodies only. This table is updated every quarter.

There are many unaccredited ISO 9001 certificates as well as ISO 9001 certificates under the accreditation of foreign accreditation bodies in the market besides the above.

What are the steps that are involved in accreditation ?

1. Single tax deduction by the Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia for each accreditation programme that the CAB is accredited for.2. Double tax deduction by the Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia for organizations/companies to obtain accredited certification.3. Grants for SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) for obtaining accredited certification is provided by SMIDEC (Small Medium Industries Development Corporation)

What are the costs involved in accreditation ?

Current basic fees are as follows:1. Single tax deduction by the Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia for each accreditation programme that the CAB is accredited for.2. Double tax deduction by the Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia for organizations/companies to obtain accredited certification.3. Grants for SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) for obtaining accredited certification is provided by SMIDEC (Small Medium Industries Development Corporation)

Other fees can be obtained from "ACB Accreditation Charges" as in the website.